ETH Library Lab
Maximiliane Okonnek, Managing Director
ETH Library Lab: Learn all about the innovation lab and its exciting projects
ETH Library Lab was founded in 2018 as an interdisciplinary innovation initiative of the ETH Library. The driving force behind the lab is the international Innovator Fellowship Program, which offers participants benefits such as a three- to nine-month scholarship during their time at ETH Zurich and a study space. The aim of ETH Library Lab is to help talented young people from a range of different subjects (usually in the sciences) to carry out experimental validation and create prototypes for their innovative product or service concepts. Projects are supported that can make a contribution to the future-oriented development of scientific information structures and services.
Greenhouses for innovation
Similar to greenhouses, which create the ideal conditions for plants to grow, innovation labs provide a safe space with the ideal conditions for the development of pioneering innovations. However, they are often viewed critically in terms of their performance and how lasting their contribution to the innovative force of an organisation is.
In this presentation, we share the challenges we faced, the learning experiences we had and the successes we enjoyed during the establishment of ETH Library Lab. You will also get an insight into the fellowship projects we have supported so far, and we will present their contributions to the digital transformation of the ETH Library. Furthermore, you will learn all about potential future fields of activity for scientific libraries, collections and archives.
Maximiliane Okonnek specialises in open innovation, applied technology and digital transformation in higher education. She is particularly interested in the future of science and research and the advancement of scientific information infrastructure and services. Since 2018, Maximiliane has been in charge of ETH Library Lab, an innovation initiative of the ETH Library. Prior to this, she worked in various positions related to innovation and digital transformation. Maximiliane studied Japanese Studies and Management & Economics at the University of Zurich and Doshisha University, Kyoto. She holds a Master’s in Japanese Studies and a Master of Science in Digital Media Management from Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation, Berlin.